Help buying an Ithaca 37

[dak0ta]

Seller wants $350 for this one. It looks to be in pretty good shape. Is it refinished? What decade do guys think it was made? Polychoke, a good thing in my books. What is the going price for this gun/condition in your area at an average price? Do you think it can swap barrels?

 

[solvability]

The serial number will reveal the date - only the later ones have swapable barrels. I have two 37's - an early and a later switch barrel - the early ones are really nice the later ones are nice.

Be aware the stock can be fragile at the wrist. Parts are all available. That price is ok - neither bad nor good.

 

[Leadhead]

Is the front sight intact? The pictures aren't very clear but it almost looks like the front sight is broken.
Some of the older ones have a cross pin that goes through the magazine nut which is nice as you extend it out to help when tightening and loosening the nut.

 

[stan rose]

Can't tell the exact age as your thumb is covering the serial #. Probably form the late 50s early 60s, unless that is a replacement stock in which case the barrel and receiver could date earlier. It does not appear that that is a switch barrel, so if you want to get another barrel for it down the road it will require a gunsmith, but poly chokes usually pattern pretty well. As for the price I know you could get one cheaper on one of the auction sites, but then you have to add shipping and FFL transfers so it would probably end up becoming a wash, $350 is not a steal, nor are you getting robbed, its just about the high end of the market value on this configuration. If you can haggle with the seller.

 

[pps]

I just picked up one for 200 bucks (rusted inside....now smooth as a baby's butt after disassembly and some TLC) and another 37 Riot gun came up for 325 that I just couldn't pass....this one is about in the same condition as the one you are showing.

If there is a matching serial number on the barrel....it was hand fitted to the receiver...and is not interchangeable.

 

[snooperman]

your pictures are not too clear , so based on what my 72 year old eyes can see, I would not give more than $275.00 for it. I have 4 Ithaca 37s that are 40-50 years old and one I bought 2 years ago for $250 that is about like the one you have in the pictures. For hunting and home defense , I prefer no other. Good luck on your search and purchase. Snoop

 

[dak0ta]

I found a 1948 Ithaca $250 + shipping. PLEASE TELL ME TO BUY IT! Or is there a hidden catch?

The bore is mint NO pitting or corrosion . External finish is good with a fair amount of bluing remaining .
2 3/4" 12 GA 30" full choke . Ser # puts date of manufacture as 1948

 

[snooperman]

You are comparing apples and oranges. The one thing they have in common is that they are Browning designs. The old auto 5 is loved and hated by many. That said you alone will have to make that choice. For me it would be the model 37 Ithaca as it is light in weight and easy to use all day on hunts. Have fun in your search and good shooting...Snoop

 

[stan rose]

That second Ithaca you showed looks like a good one for $250. If you want one of the best pump shotguns ever made get it, remember this may be your first Ithaca but it won't be your last. Just to be clear it does not have the ability to swap barrels, but my favorite Ithacas don't either, if you decide you need another barrel for what ever reason contact Les Hovencamp at Diamond Gunsmithing.

 

[dak0ta]

I always wondered why they made all the guns full choke back in the day? Were the shooters back then more accurate as a result of having to hit clays with tighter constrictions?

 

[wv109323]

The ones with changeable barrels are marked "Roto-Forged" on the barrel. The ones with non-changeable barrels are marked "Proof-Tested". IIRC the serial number was around 855,000 that the change was made.
I would guess with a Poly-Choke that you have a Proof-Tested barrel. To me with a "Poly-Choke" that price is a little high. I am thinking $300.00 but that is me.
No you can not put a "Roto-Forged" barrel on a "Proof-Tested" receiver. The threads are different. The "Proof-Tested" barrels were fitted to the receiver so even switching "Proof-Tested" barrels amoung "Proof-Tested" receivers need to be checked by a gunsmith.

 

[snooperman]

DakOta

What happened to your entry to buy a Browning auto 5 and comparing it to the Ithaca, that I responded too above. As to your second selection , it looks to be a fine choice for the money. Good luck.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Dakota, buy it.

And, those Full chokes,with the ammo at hand, gave patterns more like what we can attain with Mod or LM chokes and our better ammo.

 

[rcmodel]

I always wondered why they made all the guns full choke back in the day?

Patterns were not as tight as they are today.
Modern plastic shotcup wads hadn't been invented yet.

rc

 

[Leadhead]

Buy the second one.

 

[dak0ta]

I'm going with the second one!

 

[whalerman]

I purchased an Ithaca 37 Featherweight this evening. It is marked "proof tested" AND "roto forged". So what gives? It doesn't look like the barrel is removable. Its a 20" smooth bore. Was this a slug gun that had the barrel replaced? I'm thinking it will be a good HD gun. It is in beautiful condition.

 

[Centurian22]

Congrats on your (first?) Ithaca purchase. Great guns, can't ask for any more out of mine (a 1974 deerslayer gift from my father). There are some great you tube videos on field stripping them for a thorough cleaning. Here is the one that helped me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zpcDG8KyfA

Good luck and Enjoy!

 

[dak0ta]

Barrels match 1948 So what makes a 1948 gun different from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, etc? Will it be slicker?

 

[dak0ta]

Would it be a terrible thing to do to a '48 gun by opening up the choke a little to light mod?

 

[stan rose]

Once you buy it it is yours do with it as you like, but I have found that for 90% of the shooting done the choke is more psychological than anything else. I know there are pattern differences, but if you tell some one they have the right choke for the job they stop thinking about it and start hitting targets. I would like to suggest that if you are going to have the choke opened, why not add the versatility of having choke tubes installed, then you could have any choke you desire.

 

[dak0ta]

I kind of want to get good with the fixed full I have a Mossberg with chokes for the other stuff!

 

[Dave McCracken]

37s are Forever Guns. Well worth an investment.

Like Stan said. Get it fitted for choke tubes, add a longer forcing cone at that time, and don't look back.

Orlen, Carlson's, Truchoke and Briley do good work.

Light Mod is perhaps the most used choke here. But, a GP shotgun can be SO versatile with tube chokes....

 

[cal74]

I inherited a 20g similar to the one Dakota posted, LOVE that gun. Belonged to my grandmother many years ago.

Shot my first up-land game bird with it and thankfully many years later it still has a home with me.